Peter and Marceline left Paris the minute they set Notre Dame ablaze. They stopped at the Temple of Athena to get horses and traveled to Marseille, Gaul’s main southern port, as quickly as they could. During their travels, Peter began to notice Jaculeen’s body going through the stages of decay so he prayed to Athena for guidance. Athena suggested he ask Hera for help, so Peter prays to Hera and she agrees to help because she knows Jaculeen possesses the divine spark of Good. Hera tells Peter that she will have a cleric waiting for him in Marseille to help preserve Jaculeen’s body, sped directly from Rome.
The trip takes 20 days, and the two of them can already see that the day was not a usual one – the moon drifted ever closer to the sun. As they arrive and find the cleric, Lysistrata, who prepares and casts a ritual. Though most know nothing of the reason, worshipers watched her perform the ritual because it was probably one of the most complex and grand magical invocations to have been cast in centuries. At the pinnacle of the solar eclipse, the ghostly image of Hera herself appeared around the body of the cleric, and a glowing piece of silk slid over the body of Jaculeen. At the culmination of the ritual the silk began to unravel.
The cleric told Peter and Marceline at that time, that as the silk unravels so does the protection it provides her. She estimated it would last until the next full moon. The temple of Hera continued their aid further, providing Jaculeen with an ornate and sturdy coffin for her body to rest protected on the Journey.
Athena also spoke to Peter through his prayer and warned him of danger – which she made him swear not to reveal. She warned that the people of Greece yearned for War, and though the final decision had not yet been made, preparations were already underway as the vote was expected to favor attacking Minoa swiftly.
Peter had no choice but to continue at sea, however, due to the weight of his cargo and the sensitivity of time. Athena also told him that during this journey she may call on his assistance – the duty of any cleric to their god. Marceline, on the other hand, would not be safe crossing the water. She and Bleu departed to begin the arduous journey through the Alps, promising to meet Peter at Mount Olympus.
It was not easy, but with the help of the churches of Hera and Athena, Peter was able to secure passage for Jaculeen’s body and himself on a small merchant ship that was already bound for the Agean sea – the Maatiaton. The ship, crewed by 6 men who spoke a variety of languages, was hesitant to allow the body of a woman on board, but ultimately agreed deciding that Poseidon would not mind a dead body.
Though Peter knew of the danger, he could not say – the poor crew will not learn about the brewing war until it is too late. As the sun began to descend the Maatiaton raised sail and set off towards the east – and thus the Great Journy began.
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